Tool 11-Digital Citizenship

The importance of digital citizenship should be emphasized to children as they begin to familiarize themselves with the different websites and resources available to them on the computer. To begin with children should be made to understand how dangerous it is to give out personal information and consequences that would follow as a result of it. Children need to understand and be made aware of reasons why access to any websites or chat rooms should be only under parent supervision. Also children need to be aware that talking to strangers on a computer is just as dangerous as talking to a stranger in person. Consequences need to be discussed.

The idea of digital citizenship can be taught in small groups or in a large group. One activity could be "role playing"---the children could role play the do's and don'ts of digital citizenship. In pair sharing children can discuss what they have learned on digital citizenship and write about it in their journal. With teacher direction children can complete a T chart identifying the do's and don'ts of digital citizenship. Also teacher can read out do's and don'ts on digital citizenship and children can identify using thumbs up for do's and thumbs down for don'ts. Using a variety of activities will enhance the children's understanding of the importance of "digital citizenship"